For such a gun oriented state, one that has the right to keep and bear arms in its constitution, Texas has a lot of restrictions on firearms. One of the glaring restrictions is a law against concealed carry on college campuses.
My son is at the University of Houston this semester, and within the first week and a half there were three armed robberies on campus. In broad daylight. Two of the victims just gave up what little they had and weren’t harmed, the third victim didn’t have anything to give and was pistol whipped and put in the hospital.
So, what did I do? I called my State Rep.
I knew this was in the works but was asked to keep it under my hat for the time being, but last night at a fundraiser, Giovanni announced his first bill that he has authored and will submit in Austin this session will be Campus Carry legislation.
Gio went to college is South Philly, in a very bad neighborhood. He understands the dangers to our students, and they should have the right to defend themselves. Their peers are entrusted with defending our nation if they join the military, why shouldn’t young adults on campus be allowed to concealed carry?
Gio not only authored this bill, he offered a lot of insight to pass along to Nicholas at college giving suggestions on how he could stay safe. For taking the time to talk to me about my issue, and then to be out front on this issue is why I have supported Gio for going on three years now. He is also why I call him a friend.
Ten years ago I had an issue I wanted to talk to my State Rep Vicki Truitt, I called her office here and in Austin multiple times only to be told that I needed to talk with her staff members first to decide if I could get a moment with my representative. I never got to speak to Ms. Truitt about the issue, an issue she eventually voted against. HD 98 can be proud we now have a State Rep that understands that the power flows from the people.
I also want to be clear, Campus Carry was on Gio’s list of things to support this session. My phone call might have moved that bill up his priority list, but I want to make sure that I don’t suggest he wasn’t in favor of it before I called him.
This is real tough and I’d sure like to see the facts and stats that make this look good. For the very few campus cases I’ve heard of in which a nearby gun-toter would have made for a safer victim, I’ve known many dozens more college kids I’d really hate to know were toting guns around my college kids. As a CHL holder, I know that Saturday training class doesn’t begin to touch the training they get in the military at the same tender age.
Mitch, first off, to get a CHL you have to be 21. And what is the difference between a 21 year old 100 yards off campus and one on campus? And what about parents visiting the campus, shouldn’t we be able to carry? How about professors? Just because it is a state college should not prohibit anyone from carrying, and just maybe the thugs in Houston wouldn’t deem the students easy targets if they had to think twice whether he or she has a CHL.
Agree on all points. Only they aren’t convincing that our college kids will be safer when mixed up, angry, and impulsive kids with trigger fingers disciplined by a 1-day training class begin to carry guns in numbers next to our kids. That’s hard to get comfortable with. Even the shooting test has a 99.8% passing rate (by my instructor) and the 0.2% were offered a second chance the next day, and passed. To me it’s a question of whether the thug-risk is greater than 3 or 4 of those kids whipping out their pistols when one shows up. If it is, let’s roll.
It’s sad that Mitch thinks Second Amendment freedoms need to be justified in his mind before they’re worthy of his support. Not only does a twenty-one-year-old individual need to prove that he’s no threat to others, he needs to prove to Mitch that ALL (or nearly all) pose no threat.
Guilty until proven innocent, right Mitch?
Jim, ease up a little and try to tolerate two separate questions where you see only one. One is the 2nd Amendment rights issue, which I agreed with Doug early in hopes of moving back to address the other; whether guns on campus will make our college kids more or less safe. I’m interested to know the facts on this b/c if they’re safer with guns on campus, I’d send my two daughters to school at ease. And if stats show they’re less safe with guns on campus, I’d first send them to CHL training and expand the militia by two.
Your answer to the first question makes your second question moot.
Unless you think Constitutional Rights are conditional, which you clearly do.
Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. –Benjamin Franklin
Jim, if Benjamin Franklin wasn’t referring to this CHL’d father determining when and where his college going daughters are ready to carry guns, then by his standard I may still deserve liberty and safety.
My bad, Mitch.
I thought we were arguing the merits of Texas’s prohibition on guns on campus. On all questions of Daughters Holmes, I yield to you uncondtionally.
Just a follow up. However poor the effort, my intent was a discussion on whether campus safety might increase or decrease with guns on college campuses. Then came Sandy Hook. Then came the discussion… on national TV and radio. And with it a better understanding of the 2nd Amendment, how flippantly it would be dismantled, and how carriers with background checks increase safetey. Sandy Hook was a terrible tragedy. For my child or teacher in the system, let those so inclined and trained, carry. I much prefer a gun standing between them and the thugs than a teacher’s inneffective body.